Put a new face on Halloween
Halloween has been much more than a kids’ holiday for years. But despite all the adults who love to party this time of year, the choice of good grown-up costumes has been pretty limited.
Welcome additions to the costume scene are the intricately carved masks of Tom Banwell Designs.
Starting with vegetable-tanned leather, the artist paints and molds his creations to fit a face. Delicate lacy designs make the masks lightweight, and the selections include styles for men and women.
A simple design can cost less than $20, and some of the heavier steampunk-style masks (one titled “Plague Doctor” includes built-in goggles and a hand-stitched beak) can be as much as $2,000. The lacelike mask pictured above is $42.
You can visit the shop at Etsy.com.
October 21st, 2010



While I grew up in small-town Kentucky I’ve always been fascinated with the cosmopolitan world of high fashion. On the other hand, I love a bargain and the thrill of shopping for just the right piece.
I have a degree in English from the University of Kentucky, and since 2002 I’ve written a column for the Lexington Herald-Leader about shopping, beauty and fashion. During that time I’ve interviewed everyone from designers to boutique owners about trends and style. And I’m still forever searching for the next big sale.